Month: September 2014

I help out at my daughter’s daycare centre each week and have noticed not only that they produce a lot of waste on a daily basis, but also that a lot of it could be diverted from landfill.

So, I set up a recycling and composting system: which will hopefully not only reduce the centre’s environmental impacts, but also engage staff and children in more sustainable waste management behaviours.

I donated a composting bin, a bucket for food waste, another bin to collect recyclables, and bought (another) domestic recycling container that council empties on a weekly basis, and I have promised to empty the waste food bin each day as well as take all the recyclables home with me biweekly, so they can be collected and recycled.

Elections are coming up next week in New Zealand. I have always voted and been interested in politics, but I have never (financially) supported a political party before. But the Green Party in New Zealand really represents the values I stand for. And because of the voting system here, they are proportionally represented (at least more so than the system in the UK); so the more supporters they can get, the greater their power in government. So I just gave my first political donation.

I am not advocating a particular political party or cause, just writing about my personal actions (though I’d like to live in a society that is less unequal, cares for all people, promotes peace and is considerate to the environment. And I tend to encourage people to vote for parties and generally support organisations, institutions and movements that aim to do that 😉 ).I believe voting is important as it shows we care about the world we live in (even if you don’t agree with any of the parties, you can sabotage your ballot paper: so that it is counted and they know you care, but also know you aren’t happy with the available choices).

Yesterday a lady knocked on our door asking if she could have a lift across town as she didn’t have transport or bus money, and had very bad back pain. She had just moved to this side of town and needed to pick something up from a friend. I gave her the lift and also stopped to pick up some paracetamol for her back. She was very grateful and when I dropped her off at home I realised she must have knocked on at least 20 other doors before she got the lift.